Q: What is the single biggest challenge or concern you have right now with your CV?

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Q1: Are you aware that Applicant Tracking Systems may read your résumé before it is read by a person?

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A: Yes. I know ATS may screen my résumé.

Excellent. You're a step ahead already. Keep in mind that you potentially have two further audiences reading your résumé, each of whom take different things from it. That's why your résumé has to be compelling, concise and easy to read for each of these audiences.

In addition to ATS (which may even determine if your document gets read by a human in the first instance), other potential readers of your résumé include:

High volume or skim readers (also known as the gatekeeper screeners) such as recruiters (but could also be the most junior person in the office who has been tasked with sorting through applications in the first place); and

Detailed Readers such as hiring managers and key decision makers. They like to drill down into the finer detail about results, achievements, successes and the added value you bring to the role they're hiring for.

TIP: If you'd like to learn more about ATS or even check your resume in an ATS, check out our Free Resume Job Match Check, under the FREE RESUME TIPS tab on our website!

A: No, I didn't know that ATS may screen my application.

You're not alone on this one - the majority of people don't realise this is the case. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are the software programs used by around 80% of organisations to assist with recruitment. These programs extract information from your documents to assist in determining if you meet the key criteria for a position, and may even determine if your document gets read by a human in the first instance.

It’s important to recognise that you potentially have two further audiences reading your résumé, each of whom take different things from it. That's why your résumé has to be compelling, concise and easy to read for each of these audiences. In addition to ATS, other potential readers of your résumé include:

High volume or skim readers (also known as the gatekeeper screeners) such as recruiters (but could also be the most junior person in the office who has been tasked with sorting through applications in the first place); and

Detailed readers such as hiring managers and key decision makers. They like to drill down into the finer detail about results, achievements, successes and added value you bring to the role they're hiring for.

TIP: If you'd like to learn more about ATS or even check your resume in an ATS, check out our Free Resume Job Match Check, under the FREE RESUME TIPS tab on our website!

Q2: Does your résumé clearly define and position you for the role you are applying for?

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A: Yes.

Well done for making it crystal clear what role you're applying for in your résumé.

This is an often overlooked but very important part of your CV.

First impressions count for a lot. The front page of your CV is really valuable real estate and is the most important part of your CV, because it dictates how readers frame you in their mind, make a mental classification as to your level, and importantly, decide whether to commit to reading on through the rest of your document.

We advise you stake a claim on the role you seek by positioning yourself for it as if you have it already. If you don't, all you're doing is positioning yourself for the job you already have.

A: No / I'm unsure.

This is an often overlooked but very important part of your CV.

First impressions count for a lot. The front page of your CV is really valuable real estate and is the most important part of your CV, because it dictates how readers frame you in their mind, make a mental classification as to your level, and importantly, decide whether to commit to reading on through the rest of your document.

We advise you stake a claim on the role you seek by positioning yourself for it as if you have it already. If you don't, all you're doing is positioning yourself for the job you already have. The way you can do that is to clearly illustrate what role you're applying for by including it in your headline.

Q3: Does your résumé contain industry and role specific keywords on the front page of your document?

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A: Yes, I'm keyword ready, and it's all right there on my front page.

Great work! We know it really helps recruiters to include a key skills section on your front page based on keywords. It should comprise a concise list of your hard skills (relevant to the job on offer) and your areas of expertise.

A: No, I've not included keywords on my front page.

You might want to consider including a keywords section on your front page.

We know it really helps recruiters to include a key skills section on your front page based on keywords. It should comprise a concise list of your hard skills (relevant to the job on offer) and your areas of expertise.

A: I'm not sure what keywords are.

That's OK. You're not the only one, but this should help ... Typically, keywords are phrases and nouns that have to do with technical and professional areas of job expertise, projects, industry-related jargon, tasks, achievements, job titles and so on. Keywords are really important on résumés.

An effective combination of keywords is necessary for a résumé because while the human eye is attracted to verbs, ATS is searching for keywords. We know it really helps recruiters to include a key skills section on your front page based on keywords. This keyword section should comprise a concise list of your hard skills (relevant to the job on offer) and your areas of expertise.

Q4: Is your résumé written in:

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A: I've written my résumé in first person.

Don't panic - this isn't a trick question. While using first person is not a problem, there might just be a better way to present yourself. This can be done by avoiding the first person pronoun. We say that ‘I’ has no place in a résumé and with good reason (two, in fact). Firstly, who else would you be talking about in your résumé if not yourself? Secondly, using ‘I’ throughout your document just takes up valuable space.

You might want to consider using action verbs instead. While it may not have been standard practice when you were taught to write persuasive text, beginning most of your sentences with action verbs is standard practice, and is accepted and recommended in résumés. Action verbs give your résumé additional impact and make a stronger impression on the reader.

A: I've written my résumé in third person.

Don't panic - this isn't a trick question, but we'd steer you away from using third person. While third person is fine if say, a recruiter is pitching you on your behalf for a position, it's not so great if you're applying directly for roles.

An application submitted by you for a role should always be written in a style that suggests first person, ideally without the use of the first person pronoun ‘I’. We say that ‘I’ has no place in a résumé and with good reason (two, in fact). Firstly, who else would you be talking about in your résumé if not yourself? Secondly, using ‘I’ throughout your document just takes up valuable space.

You might want to consider using action verbs instead. While it may not have been standard practice when you were taught to write persuasive text, beginning most of your sentences with action verbs is standard practice, and is accepted and recommended in résumés. Action verbs give your résumé additional impact and make a stronger impression on the reader.

A: Neither. I use action verbs instead.

Well done. This is a great strategy. Beginning most of your sentences with action verbs may not have been standard practice when you were taught to write persuasive text, but this practice is accepted and recommended in résumés. Action verbs give your résumé additional impact and make a stronger impression on the reader.

A: I’m not sure if I’ve used first or third person, or action verbs.

If you’re not sure what style you’ve written your résumé in, you might need our help.

If your résumé is peppered with the use of ‘I’, you’ve used first person.

While third person is fine if, say, a recruiter is pitching you on your behalf for a position, it's not so great if you're applying directly for roles.

An application submitted by you for a role should always be written in a style that suggests first person, ideally without the use of the first person pronoun ‘I’. We say that ‘I’ has no place in a résumé and with good reason (two, in fact). Firstly, who else would you be talking about in your résumé if not yourself? Secondly, using ‘I’ throughout your document just takes up valuable space.

With regard to action verbs, it may not have been standard practice when you were taught to write persuasive text, but beginning most of your sentences with action verbs is standard practice, and is accepted and recommended in résumés. Action verbs give your résumé additional impact and make a stronger impression on the reader.

Q5: Have you used any acronyms in your résumé?

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A: Yes, I have used acronyms.

Great. Just make sure that when you use acronyms in your CV, that you precede each acronym when used the first time with its full title eg: Training and Development (T&D).

Why? Because when used in CVs, acronyms can be confusing for the human reader and ATS, even more so if the person screening your CV in the first place isn't someone who really understands what you do for a job. Another reason is because one acronym in one sector might mean something else altogether in another industry.

By spelling things out in full the first time you use an acronym, you're making it easier on the reader, and removing any cause for confusion or misunderstanding thereafter.

A: No, I’ve not used acronyms in my résumé.

No problem, but keep in mind for next time that if you do, it’s important that you precede each acronym when used the first time with its full title eg: Training and Development (T&D).

Why? Because when used in CVs, acronyms can be confusing for the human reader and ATS, even more so if the person screening your CV in the first place isn't someone who really understands what you do for a job. Another reason is because one acronym in one sector might mean something else altogether in another industry.

By spelling things out in full the first time you use an acronym, you're making it easier on the reader, and removing any cause for confusion or misunderstanding thereafter.

A: I’m not sure if I’ve used acronyms.

Don't panic - this isn't a trick question! We all use acronyms all the time - an acronym is an abbreviation formed from the initial components in a phrase or a word, such as T&D (Training and Development). If you do use acronyms in your résumé, it’s important that you precede each acronym when used the first time with its full title eg: Training and Development (T&D).

Why? Because when used in CVs, acronyms can be confusing for the human reader and ATS, even more so if the person screening your CV in the first place isn't someone who really understands what you do for a job. Another reason is because one acronym in one sector might mean something else altogether in another industry.

By spelling things out in full the first time you use an acronym, you're making it easier on the reader, and removing any cause for confusion or misunderstanding thereafter.

Q6: Have you used headers, footers, company logos and/or tables in your résumé?

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A: Yes, I have used headers, footers, and/or tables in my résumé.

While using headers, footers and tables is a great way to ensure your content in presented neatly, some ATS programs cannot extract information from tables, headers or footers, so any submissions in Word for roles posted online or to employers who use ATS could be compromised, and the field that the ATS is attempting to populate will appear blank at the recipient’s end.

A: No, I have not used headers, footers, company logos and/or tables in my résumé.

Great! We advise you don’t. While using headers, footers and tables is a great way to ensure your content in presented neatly, some ATS programs cannot extract information from tables, headers or footers, so any submissions in Word for roles posted online or to employers who use ATS could be compromised, and the field that the ATS is attempting to populate will appear blank at the recipient’s end.

Q7: Have you used the logos of companies you have worked for in your résumé?

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A: Yes, I have used logos of companies I’ve worked for in my résumé.

We'd advise that you don't include logos. They can present a number of problems, from copyright infringement to the file size, and they can also be a problem for ATS because some cannot read logos or extract data from them.

Furthermore, the naming convention of the logo image embedded in your documents could cause problems for your document or the recipient if metadata is extracted by ATS.

A: No, I haven’t used logos of companies I’ve worked for in my résumé.

Good! We always advise that you don't include logos. While they can look great, they can present a number of problems, from copyright infringement to the file size, and they can also be a problem for ATS because some cannot read logos or extract data from them.

Furthermore, the naming convention of the logo image embedded in your documents could cause problems for your document or the recipient if metadata is extracted by ATS.

Q8: Have you included your name and contact details on every page of your résumé?

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A: Yes, my name and contact details are one every page of my résumé.

Perfect! You’d be surprised at the number of people who don’t.

Look at it from a recruiter’s perspective. Imagine if your document was printed, and someone has a similar format and layout, and pages were misplaced or placed into someone else's documents in error? There's no knowing who the pages of your résumé belong to if you haven’t clearly labelled them. It’s great that you have.

Just make sure that they are not in the header or footer if you send your résumé as a Word document.

A: No, my name and contact details are not on every page of my résumé.

You might want to reconsider that. Look at it from a recruiter’s perspective. Imagine if your document was printed, and someone has a similar format and layout, and pages were misplaced or placed into someone else's documents in error? There's no knowing who the pages of your résumé belong to if you haven’t clearly labelled them.

Just make sure that when you do put them on every page, that they are not in the header or footer if you send your résumé as a Word document.

Q9: Have you included your full address on your résumé?

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A: Yes, my full address is on my résumé.

You may want to reconsider including your full address because these days, we tend not to include them on Australian CVs.

A city and postcode are sufficient in most cases, unless, of course, proximity to the place of employment is a prerequisite for applicants. Including a full address where it is not a prerequisite, however, can open you up to demographic profiling and it’s generally not information that is required at the application stage.

If you are currently located outside of Australia, list an overseas address, and are seeking a role in Australia, it can work against you as employers rarely pursue candidates who are clearly not already located within the country unless there are identified skills shortages for the role they seek to fill.

A: No, my full address is not on my résumé.

That's OK because these days, we tend not to include full address details on Australian CVs.

A city and postcode are sufficient in most cases, unless, of course, proximity to the place of employment is a prerequisite for applicants. Including a full address where it is not a prerequisite, however, can open you up to demographic profiling and it’s generally not information that is required at the application stage.

If you are currently located outside of Australia, list an overseas address, and are seeking a role in Australia, it can work against you as employers rarely pursue candidates who are clearly not already located within the country unless there are identified skills shortages for the role they seek to fill.

Q10: Have you included your date of birth on your résumé?

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A: Yes, my date of birth is on my résumé.

Uh oh. We'd suggest you remove it, and quickly!

We always advise clients to never include your date of birth on your résumé. There is no legal requirement in Australia to do so.

Firstly, it’s no one’s business.

Secondly, whether we like it or not, the reality is that while illegal in Australia, age discrimination does occur in the job market (and it works both ways), so that’s another reason not to include your date of birth.

A: No, my date of birth is not on my résumé.

Excellent. We always advise clients to never include your date of birth on your résumé. There is no legal requirement to do so.

Firstly, it’s no one’s business.

Secondly, whether we like it or not, the reality is that while illegal in Australia, age discrimination does occur in the job market (and it works both ways), so that’s another reason not to include your date of birth.

Q11: Have you included your photo on your résumé?

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A: Yes, I have a photo of myself on my résumé.

Hmm. You might want to re-think that approach.

We don't think you should include an image of yourself, and here's why: Added to the fact that a simple photo could provide cause for discrimination, including a photo just takes up valuable space on your résumé.

As a rule of thumb, we advise that you don’t. We suggest it’s kept for LinkedIn unless you’re a model or an actor and/or it’s asked for.

A: No, I don’t have a photo of myself on my résumé.

Great. We don't think you should either, and here's why: Added to the fact that a simple photo could provide cause for discrimination, including a photo just takes up valuable space on your résumé. As rule of thumb, we advise that you don’t.

Keep it for LinkedIn unless you’re a model or an actor and/or it’s asked for.

Q12: Have you included your home telephone number on your résumé?

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A: Yes, I’ve included my home telephone number.

Including a home telephone number ages your CV no matter which way you look at it. Not to mention the conflicting message it conveys when someone other than you answers it in a fit of giggles with the TV blaring in the background after you've painstakingly portrayed yourself in your CV as the commensurate professional with an impeccable grasp of technology.

We advise mobile numbers wherever possible. If you don't have a mobile number, there are plenty of other options such as FaceTime, Google HangOuts and Skype as alternatives.

And yes, we realise this is tricky if you're currently based overseas and applying for jobs in Australia prior to relocating. Your overseas mobile number will be a giveaway that you're not physically here yet, and could work against you because employers rarely pursue candidates based abroad, no matter what your residency or visa status is. If this is you, we advise that you secure a Skype number local to the state you intend to settle in and have it divert to your international mobile number. Yes, it will look like a local landline number to the caller, but it gives a better impression than an international mobile number.

A: No, I’ve not included my home telephone number.

Great. We advise mobile numbers wherever possible. Including a home telephone number ages your CV no matter which way you look at it. Not to mention the conflicting message it conveys when someone other than you answers it in a fit of giggles with the TV blaring cartoons in the background after you've painstakingly portrayed yourself in your CV as the commensurate professional with an impeccable grasp of technology.

If you don't have a mobile number, there are plenty of other options such as FaceTime, Google HangOuts and Skype as alternatives.

And yes, we realise this is tricky if you're currently based overseas and applying for jobs in Australia prior to relocating. Your overseas mobile number will be a giveaway that you're not physically here yet, and could work against you because employers rarely pursue candidates based abroad, no matter what your residency or visa status is. If this is you, we advise that you secure a Skype number local to the state you intend to settle in and have it divert to your international mobile number. Yes, it will look like a local landline number to the caller, but it gives a better impression than an international mobile number.

Q13: Have you included an objective statement on your résumé?

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A: Yes, I have an objective statement on my résumé.

Perhaps you might want to re-think your objective statement.

Think about it from the employer’s perspective. Objective statements are all about you and amount to nothing more than an "I want" statement.

And the bottom-line is that an employer doesn't really care what you want.

What they DO care about is their bottom-line needs, and your résumé needs to address how perfect you are for those needs.

Your message needs to be clear: "Dear Employer: You're looking for a [imagine your next job title here], and I’m the best there is. Here’s my track record of results to prove it."

A: No, I don’t have an objective statement on my résumé.

Great! We're not big fans of them, and neither are employers.

When it comes to objective statements, we advise not including one.

The reason being that an objective amounts to nothing more than an "I want" statement.

And the bottom-line is that an employer doesn't really care what you want. What they DO care about is their bottom-line needs, and your résumé needs to address how perfect you are for those needs.

Your message needs to be clear: "Dear Employer: You're looking for a [imagine your next job title here], and I’m the best there is. Here’s my track record of results to prove it."

Q14: Is your résumé a laundry list of what your responsibilities are, or does it read like a job description of all the jobs you’ve had in the past?

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A: Yes, my résumé reads like a job description of everything I’ve done in the past.

OK. Perhaps we need to work on that.

There is nothing worse for a recruiter than reading through a résumé that is merely a re-written job description detailing tasks, skills and accountabilities for a role.

Sadly though, the majority of résumés tend to be overviews of responsibilities and skills.

Even when top-line summaries are included, they rarely do anything but point out that you have exactly the same skills as every other candidate applying for the job on offer.

Résumés are typically a fairly dry chronological history of your career to date, but you can really make yours stand out from the crowd by reworking it and presenting it in such a way as to prove you are the perfect candidate for the job you wish to apply for. To do this, you sell your value to the company, not just your experience. You must rapidly make it clear why they should consider you over the other similarly qualified candidates.

Listing the tasks and responsibilities you’ve had in your jobs in the past just isn’t going to cut it in a crowded job market.

A: No, my résumé does not read like a job description of everything I’ve done in the past.

That's great! I can almost hear recruiters exhaling with a sigh of relief.

There is nothing worse for a recruiter than reading through a résumé that is merely a re-written job description detailing tasks, skills and accountabilities for a role.

Sadly though, the majority of résumés tend to be overviews of responsibilities and skills.

Even when top-line summaries are included, they rarely do anything but point out that you have exactly the same skills as every other candidate applying for the job on offer.

Resumes are typically a fairly dry chronological history of your career to date, but you can really make yours stand out from the crowd by reworking it and presenting it in such a way as to prove you are the perfect candidate for the job you wish to apply for. To do this, you sell your value to the company, not just your experience. You must rapidly make it clear why they should consider you over the other similarly qualified candidates.

Listing the tasks and responsibilities you’ve had in your jobs in the past just isn’t going to cut it in a crowded job market.

Q15: Have you clearly detailed your achievements following the CAR (Challenge, Action, Result) format or similar, with the focus being on the result or outcome, not the action you took?

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A: Yes, I have clearly detailed my achievements and emphasised the results.

Good for you. This is exactly what employers are looking for.

Most people are great at stating their responsibilities and how they do (or did) their jobs but don't include the detail of what the outcome meant to the employer or the business as a whole.

Achievements are just what recruiters need to see so they can get a quick understanding of your experience, strengths and areas of expertise.

When it comes to achievements though, what recruiters are really looking for is results, and evidence or proof of those results.

Evidence-based résumés get results.

TIP: Need some help? Check out 'How To Write Achievements' under the FREE RESUME TIPS tab on our website.

A: No, I have not clearly detailed my achievements and emphasised the results.

OK - this is probably where you need to spend the most amount of time getting your résumé into shape.

Most people are great at stating their responsibilities and how they do (or did) their jobs but don't include the detail of what the outcome meant to the employer or the business as a whole.

And this is where most people let themselves down - by selling themselves short.

A hiring manager or recruiter reading this type of document is going to ask, 'so what?' That's what you were paid to do!

Achievements are just what recruiters need to see so they can get a quick understanding of your experience, strengths and areas of expertise.

When it comes to achievements though, what recruiters are really looking for is results, and evidence or proof of those results (the outcome).

TIP: Need some help? Check out 'How To Write Achievements' under the FREE RESUME TIPS tab on our website.

Good, because if you think that a visually distinctive résumé will not make you stand out positively from the competition, think again.

While you do not want to use fancy or frilly formats, drawing attention and standing out through clear and attractive formatting can make all the difference in the world as to whether your résumé is picked from the pile of documents that make it to the recruiter. Keep in mind that sans serif fonts are easier to read on screen and for high volume readers, the bigger the font size, the better (no one is ever going to thank you for getting eye strain scanning your 8 point font résumé!).

Generic templates, packed pages with limited white space, unusual fonts, too much bolding or italics, or just ‘blah’ presentations should be avoided.

Make sure your résumé draws positive attention.

A: No, my document doesn’t look as professional as it could.

A professional presentation, no matter what job you do, is pretty important because it's a reflection of you, and leaves an impression on the reader before they even get to meet you.

If you think that a visually distinctive résumé will not make you stand out positively from the competition, think again.

While you do not want to use fancy or frilly formats, drawing attention and standing out through clear and attractive formatting can make all the difference in the world as to whether your résumé is picked from the pile of documents that make it to the recruiter. Keep in mind that sans serif fonts are easier to read on screen as well as for high volume readers, the bigger the font size, the better (no one is ever going to thank you for getting eye strain scanning your 8 point font résumé!).

Generic templates, packed pages with limited white space, unusual fonts, too much bolding or italics, or just ‘blah’ presentations should be avoided.

Make sure your résumé draws positive attention.

Q17: Have you listed referees on your résumé, or listed 'referees available on request'?

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A: Yes, I have listed referees contact details or referees on request.

You might want to consider the following when it comes to referees ...

We generally advise not to include referee contact details, or dedicate any space to referees on request. Why?

Because it's understood that subsequent to a job offer, referees would be sought, and this space may well be better used 'selling' your skills.

We have also heard of isolated incidents where referees have been contacted during the screening process, and prior to the candidate even being asked for interview, and in one case, the candidate didn't even get asked to interview because of what was divulged by the unprepared referee.

Wherever possible, your referees should be fully briefed about the specifics of a role you have been shortlisted for, and you should select the best referee to talk to those skills at that time.

Of course when a job specifically requests that referee details are included with your application (as is often the case in public sector applications and contracting trades roles), they should be.

A: No, I have not listed referees contact details or referees on request.

That's great. We generally advise that candidates don’t include referee contact details or dedicate any space to referees on request, so you’ve taken the right approach here. Why?

Because it's understood that subsequent to a job offer, referees would be sought, and this space may well be better used 'selling' your skills.

We have also heard of isolated incidents where referees have been contacted during the screening process, and prior to the candidate even being asked for interview, and in one case, the candidate didn't even get asked to interview because of what was divulged by the unprepared referee.

Wherever possible, your referees should be fully briefed about the specifics of a role you have been shortlisted for, and you should select the best referee to talk to those skills at that time.

Of course when a job specifically requests that referee details are included with your application (as is often the case in public sector applications and contracting trades roles), they should be.

Q18: Have you detailed jobs from over 10 years ago, or listed roles, skills, or achievements that aren't relevant to the job you want now?

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A: Yes, I have detailed experience from over 10 years ago.

You might want to think about how that positions you in the eyes of a recruiter.

Employers are generally only really interested in detail relating to the past five years’ work experience, 10 at the outside, although they do like to see the pathway that you took to get to where you are now (of course, there are always exceptions).

Having said that, if you have some cracking achievements and successes from earlier roles, by all means include them provided they add value to your story or to the role you seek.

Employers want to see experience that is relevant to the position you are applying for, and they need to know that your experience is current.

It's the currency and relevance that are critical here.

A: No, I have not detailed experience from over 10 years ago.

If you've not yet got that much work experience, keep in mind for the future the folloowing ... Employers are generally only really interested in detail relating to the past five years’ work experience, 10 at the outside, although they do like to see the pathway that you took to get to where you are now (of course, there are always exceptions).

Having said that, if you have some cracking achievements and successes from earlier roles, by all means include them provided they add value to your story or to the role you seek.

Employers want to see experience that is relevant to the position you are applying for, and they need to know that your experience is current. It's the currency and relevance that are critical here.

If you’re new to the workforce, make sure you focus on your skills and draw examples from your experience in life, study and (paid and unpaid) work to date to build up your story of successes and achievements, and focus on the results and what is relevant to the role you're applying for.

Q19: Have you spell checked your résumé?

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A: Yes, I have spell checked my résumé.

OK - it sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t.

Spelling errors, typos and poor grammar can make you look unprofessional at best, and incompetent at worst.

In Australia, your résumé should use British English or Australian English Spelling, unless you are applying for a role with a US company, in which case US English spelling would be acceptable.

If in doubt, check out the company website, and use the spelling they use.

TIP: Use our FREE Spelling and Grammar Checker, available under the FREE RESUME TIPS tab on our website.

A: No, I have not spell checked my résumé.

Well, you wouldn’t be the first not to use spell check.

Spelling errors, typos and poor grammar can make you look unprofessional at best, and incompetent at worst.

In Australia, your résumé should use British English or Australian English Spelling, unless you are applying for a role with a US company, in which case US English spelling would be acceptable.

If in doubt, check out the company website, and use the spelling they use.

TIP: Use our FREE Spelling and Grammar Checker, available under the FREE RESUME TIPS tab on our website.

Q20: Is your résumé more than 3 pages?

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A: Yes, it is longer than 3 pages.

That may well be fine, as there is no ‘rule’ when it comes to the length of a résumé.

It needs to be as long as it needs to be to get your message across succinctly, but if it’s longer than 3 pages (unless it’s an academic CV) you might want to look at how you can refine it.

A: No, it is not longer than 3 pages.

That may well be fine, as there is no ‘rule’ when it comes to the length of a résumé.

It needs to be as long as it needs to be to get your message across succinctly.

The typical Australian résumé is around 2 - 3 pages in length, unless it’s an academic CV.